Electric illuminated letter



(No Model.)

J. A. MGENTEE.' ELECTRIC ILLUMINATED LETTER.

No. 437,226. Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

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JAMES A. MOENTEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC ILLUMINATED LETTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,226, dated September 30, 1890.

Application filed April 4, 1890. Serial No- 346,626- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES A. MCENTEE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Illuminated Letters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric illuminated letters, in which a series of electric lamps are suspended in a frame of suitable material and exposed in such a position that the passage of an electric current through the lamps at night renders the letter or figure, as the case may be, luminous and easily seen. During the day the letter is visible, owing to the employment of white sockets for the electric lamp.

The object of my invention is to produce a letter or figure illuminated by electricity at night and visible during the day by reason of the parts and materials used in the construction of the said letter or figure, and this object I attain by means of the device shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view of the letter H, taken to illustrate the device. Fig. 2 is a view of the wire support holding the lamps, showing the method of bending the said wire. Fig. 3 is a view of the india-rubber tube which forms the cap excluding water or moisture from the lamps. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the lamp and supporting device where any suit able tube is used. Fig. 5 is a view of a supporting-wire bent around the frame of the letter.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throu ghout the several views.

I make a frame for a letter or figure composed of suitable rods or tubes 1, forming the outline of the letter, while in certain instances I use tube, as in Fig. 4. At'other times I use solid rods of suitable material. At convenient points in cases where the tube is used for the frame I solder to the outside a set of pins 3, which are designed to support the electric lamp within the said frame, and it will be seen that the said pins 3 on one side of the frame are longer than those on the opposite side of the lamp, Fig. 4. This is purposely done to allow of the individual lamp being removed by loosening the screw 5. Where a solid frame is employed I make the pins 3 of a loop in the wire 2, which is bent around the frame 1.

Within the tube of the frame 1, if a tube be employed, or wrapped around the frame 1 if a rod be used, I place the electric wires 11 and 12, positive and negative, a branch-from each wire going and coming to each of the electric lamps in the letter, the said lamps being connected in multiple. I then make a supporting-band 6, which surrounds the socket 9 of an incandescent electric lamp. This supporting-band 6 is provided with the two sockets 4 4, placed in an axial line, which are of suitable material and drilled in theend to admit the pin 3 of the frame 1, and each socket 4 is provided with a set-screw 5. The supporting-band 6 is secured and held about the socket 9 by the screw 7, which is screwed into the lugs 6 6 on the band 6. 9 of the electric lamp is of white porcelain or other suitable material and holds the wire loop and the globe 10, the electric current passing into and out of the lamp by the positive and negative wires 11 12. I then make an india-rubber band or collar 8 of a tubular form, Fig. 3, and this band is made of rubber sufficiently thin to stretch over the lower end of the socket 9 and embrace the base of the globe 10 and contract about the same, so as to exclude all wet or moisture, and this said band or collar is held on the socket 9 by the supporting-band 6, which is tightened up about the socket 9 after the band or collar 8 is in place.

Having thus described the parts of my invention, I now proceed to explain the method of using the same. I put the frame together, arranging the pins 33 of each series opposite each other. I then take a socket 9 for an electric lamp and stretch over the outer end a band or collar 8. I then adjust the supporting-band 6 over the collar 8, allowing the outer end of the collar 8 to project beyond the socket 9. I then tighten the screw 7 to secure the collar 8 and hold the socket 9 firm. I then turn the outer edge of the band or collar 8 back and introduce the base of the globe 10 into the socket 9 and screw it up tight, and then release the outer edge of the collar 8, and it flies back to its place and contracts The socket about the globe l0, effectually excluding Water or moisture from the lamp. This device enables the lamp to be used in exposed positions, as it eflectually insulates the lamp and prevents short circuits and burning out of the socket. Having adjusted the band 6 and collar 8 and socket 9 and globe 10 as described, I connect the wires 11 and 12 of the lamp with those of the frame of the letter or figure and secure the supporting-band 6 to the pins 3 3 by means of the sockets 4t 4 and the screws 5 5. The requisite number of electric lamps being in this mannersecured to the frame of the letter or figure, I have a letter that is visible at night and plainly seen by day.

I am aware that letters illuminated by electricity have been in use prior to my invention, and I do not, therefore, lay claim to the broad principle of illuminating letters by electricity; but

\Vhat I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An electric illuminated letter or figure consisting of a Wire frame about which coils a bent supporting-wire provided at given points with pins formed of a compressed loop of the said wire, combined With a supportingband provided with set-screws and drill-holes, the said supporting-band holding the socket of an electric lamp, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth and described.

2. An electric illuminated letter or figure having a supporting-frame, the same consistiug of hollow tubes containing the electric conducting-wires, the same emerging from the said tubes at convenient points, and the said tubes havinga set of supporting-pins, soldered or secured to them, combined with a supporting-band having sockets and setsorews, the same supporting a socket for the electric lamp, all as and for the purpose substantially as set forth and described.

3. In an electric illuminated letter or figure, the combination of a socket bearing electric conducting-Wires and supporting a globe of an electric lamp, the said socket and base of the globe being covered on the outside with an elastic collar or band contracted about the same, combined with a supporting band securing the said socket and globe, the said supporting-band being provided with sockets and set-screws for securing the lamp to the frame of the letter, all as and for the purpose substantially as set forth and described.

JAMES A. MCENTEE.

In presence of- H. HAUPT,J1'., J os. GUCKENHEIMER. 

